Patent Application
20220312833
The present invention relates to a method for producing filters for smoking articles and filters for smoking articles obtained by such a method, according to the preamble of present claims 1 and 15.
Conventional filter cigarettes are produced in large quantities by joining tobacco rods with filter rods and firmly connecting them with a tipping paper, followed by cutting operations. These procedures are well-known in the art. Meanwhile, filters, also called filter sticks, for smoking articles are sold separately to be used for different kinds of smoking articles.
Said filters are typically made by wrapping a filter rod with a wrapping paper and cutting the resulting wrapped filter rod into pieces. These processes are conducted by specialized machines very rapidly. Thereby, the visual appearance and quality of the final filters is often mitigated due to manufacturing tolerances of such processes and machines, respectively. The manufacturing tolerances relate to arrangement of the wrapping paper and the filter rod, wherein their positions can be displaced relative to each other, resulting in unwrapped filter rod portions or protruding wrapping paper portions at the edges of the final filters.
It is therefore the objective of the present invention to provide a method for producing filters for smoking articles that improves the visual appearance and quality of the final filters.
The afore-mentioned problems are solved by a method for producing filters for smoking articles. The method according to the invention comprises the following steps of: providing a filter rod, the filter rod having a cylinder shape with a first filter rod end, a second filter rod end and a circumferential filter rod surface; providing an outer wrapper; wrapping the outer wrapper around the filter rod along a filter rod circumferential direction covering at least parts of the circumferential filter rod surface; obtaining a wrapped filter rod; cutting the wrapped filter rod perpendicular to a filter rod longitudinal direction into outer and inner wrapped filter rod segments, wherein a first outer wrapped filter rod segment comprising the first filter rod end and a second outer wrapped filter rod segment comprising the second filter rod end have a length being less than 10% of a total length of the filter rod and/or less than 10 mm; and obtaining the inner wrapped filter rod segments as the filters and disposing the outer wrapped filter rod segments.
The method provides the production of filters with an enhanced visual appearance, preferably of edges of the inner wrapped filter rod segments since the outer wrapped filter rod segments are discarded. Preferably, the filter rod is produced longer than required for the final filters or inner wrapped filter rod segments, respectively, so that the outer wrapped filter rod segments can be disposed. Therefore, the filter rod is preferably produced longer by the length of the first and the second outer wrapped filter rod segments.
By cutting the wrapped filter rod according to the invention, the inner wrapped filter segments, constituting the filters, provide a shared ending of the filter rod and the outer wrapper by means that the outer wrapper is not protruding or recessed relative to the filter rod and vice versa. Further, the outer wrapper and the filter rod of the inner wrapped filter rod segments have the same length. By cutting the wrapped filter rod substantially adjacent to filter rod ends and disposing the thereby obtained outer wrapped filter rod segments, manufacturing tolerances affecting the edges/ends of the filter become irrelevant.
According to the invention, the obtained wrapped filter rod comprises the filter rod and the outer wrapper, wherein the outer wrapper is wrapped around the filter rod. Furthermore, the wrapped filter rod comprises the filter rod and the outer wrapper, wherein the outer wrapper is firmly attached to the filter rod.
According to the invention, disposing the outer wrapped filter rod segments should be also understood as not using the outer wrapped filter rod segments as filters for smoking articles. The outer filter segments might also preferably be recycled or used for another application.
Preferably, smoking articles comprise conventional cigarettes, heat-not-burn sticks and/or electronic cigarettes.
Preferably, the filter rod extends in a filter rod longitudinal direction, which is parallel to the circumferential filter rod surface. Preferably, the filter rod further extends in a filter rod radial direction, which is perpendicular to the filter rod longitudinal direction. More preferably, the filter rod further extends in a filter rod circumferential direction, which extends along/with the circumferential filter rod surface.
Preferably, at least two inner wrapped filter rod segments, i.e. at least two filters, are obtained by cutting the wrapped filter rod. It is also possible that a plurality of inner wrapped filter rod segments is obtained if the wrapped filter rod is cut more often.
Preferably, the method is conducted by a smoking article filter manufacturing machine. The filter rod is preferably provided by a filter rod maker machine.
Preferably, the outer wrapper is substantially covering the whole circumferential filter rod surface. This ensures the maintaining of the visual appearance of the final filter since there are no unwrapped (by the outer wrapper) parts of the filter rod that are visible.
Preferably, the method/the steps is/are executed by one suitable machine. It is also possible that the method/the steps are conducted by at least two separated machines, for example one machine handles outer wrapper application steps, wherein another machine performs cutting and separation steps. Therefore, it is conceivable that the steps of the method could be executed spatially and temporally separated from each other.
In a preferred embodiment, at least two inner wrapped filter rod segments are obtained, when the wrapped filter rod is being cut. Obtaining two inner wrapped filter rod segments is particularly preferred. In such a way, more filters are produced in one step increasing the efficiency of the method. The number of inner wrapped filter rod segments depends on the number of cuts or how often the wrapped filter rod is cut, respectively.
In a preferred embodiment, the first outer wrapped filter rod segment and the second outer wrapped filter rod segment have a length being less than 8%, preferably less than 6% more preferably less than 4% and particularly preferably 3.85% of the total length of the filter rod. Such a length of the outer wrapped filter rod segments leads to the discarding of only small amounts of unused filter rod, thus saving costs and resources. Moreover, a proper visual appearance of the filter is guaranteed.
In a preferred embodiment, the first outer wrapped filter rod segment and the second outer wrapped filter rod segment have a length being less than 8 mm, preferably less than 6 mm, more preferably less than 4 mm and particularly preferably 3 mm. Such a length of the outer wrapped filter rod segments leads to the discarding of only small amounts of unused filter rod, thus saving costs and resources. Moreover, a proper visual appearance of the filter is guaranteed.
Preferably, the first outer wrapped filter rod segment and the second outer wrapped filter rod segment have the same length so that the process can be easily integrated into existing procedures and machines. It is also conceivable that the first outer wrapped filter rod segment and the second outer wrapped filter rod segment have a different length.
In a preferred embodiment, the outer wrapper is fixed to the filter rod by an adhesive connection, wherein the adhesive connection is arranged on an inner outer wrapper surface, the inner outer wrapper surface being in contact with the circumferential filter rod surface. Beneficially, glueing connections are cheap and easily applicable by known processes. Preferably, the glueing connection is at least partially covering the inner outer wrapper surface.
In a preferred embodiment, at least parts of the inner outer wrapper surface are self-adhesive. This feature ensures the simple arrangement and/or fixation of the outer wrapper on/to the filter rod.
In a preferred embodiment, an outer surface of the outer wrapper is printed, in particular with letters, symbols, textures and/or emblems. This feature offers the possibility of branding the outer wrapper by printing a company logo or name on it. Furthermore, the printed outer wrapper can preferably be used for marketing and communication purposes. Preferably, the printing on the outer wrapper can indicate the position of a flavouring element, like a flavored capsule, to facilitate breaking of said capsule. Therefore, it is important that the outer wrapper is precisely applied/wrapped to/on the filter rod, so that the position of printings on the outer wrapper matches the position of a flavoring element inside the filter rod, for example.
In a preferred embodiment, the filter rod comprises an acetate filter tow and a plug wrap. It is also conceivable, that the filter tow exhibits different structures, particularly visual appearances, providing flutes, channels, tubes and/or voids. Such filter constructions are known in the art, for example for improving their filtering performance, the visual appearance and/or the branding.
Preferably, the filter rod comprises a plug wrap, i.e. an inner wrapper surrounding the filter plug in between said filter plug and outer wrapper, particularly a plug wrap paper. The plug wrap is preferably wrapped around the filter tow. The plug wrap can exhibit different properties, such as low weight, porosity, etc. The use of plug wrap papers and their application on the filter tow is well-known in the art. It is also possible, to use more plug wraps depending on the structure and components of the filter rod/filter.
It is conceivable that the filter rod also comprises further components like activated or active carbon. Furthermore, many different filter rod, filter, filter tow and/or plug wrap designs and/or arrangements are known in the art, wherein all these designs and/or arrangements could be used within the method according to the invention where appropriate.
In a preferred embodiment, the filter rod comprises a fibrous material, the fibrous material being selected from a group consisting of cellulose acetate, cellulose, flax, cotton and polylactic acid. Said fibrous materials on the one hand provide the high active surface to absorb and/or adsorb certain harmful components of smoke and on the other hand have a low weight. Preferably, the used materials are biodegradable and made of a renewable raw material.
In a preferred embodiment, a first and a second flavoring element, in particular a flavored breakable capsule, being arranged inside the filter rod, wherein a central plane of the filter rod extending perpendicular to the filter rod longitudinal direction defines a first and a second side of the filter rod, wherein the first flavoring element is arranged on the first side of the filter rod and the second flavoring element is arranged on the second side of the filter rod, wherein the first and the second flavoring element are arranged in a distance to the central plane, the distance being between 3 mm and 20 mm.
Preferably, the first and the second flavoring element are arranged substantially centrally inside the filter rod with respect to the filter rod radial direction.
Preferably, said flavored breakable capsules are made of plastic material or gelatine-based material housing a flavored liquid. The flavored capsule for example contains menthol and also includes other flavorings, e.g. sugars, acetaldehyde, levulinic acid, clove, etc. and many different flavors like spearmint, lemon, apple, strawberry and/or coffee. These capsules can be broken upon demand by mechanical force to release the liquid, thereby flavoring the smoke flowing through. Such flavored capsules, their production and arrangement into filters is well-known in the art nowadays.
It is also possible that the flavoring elements are provided as a flavored granular material, wherein different granular materials can be mixed. Granular materials advantageously cannot be broken by accident. More preferably, one of the flavoring elements can be a flavored capsule and the other flavoring element can be a flavored granular material.
Furthermore, it is possible that more than two flavoring elements are arranged inside the filter rod. The amount of flavoring elements is related to the number of inner wrapped filter rod segments obtained by cutting the wrapped filter rod.
In a preferred embodiment, the first and the second flavoring element are arranged in a distance between 5 mm and 15 mm, preferably 8 mm and 12 mm and more preferably in a distance of 10 mm to the central plane of the filter rod. This feature ensures the safe and permanent arrangement of the flavoring elements inside the filter rod and prevents unwanted damage to said flavored elements during cutting actions.
In a preferred embodiment, the outer wrapper consists of a paper, or more generally a cellulose based sheet material, wherein the outer wrapper is preferably textured, structured, coated and/or perforated. Said materials are cheap and easily processable during manufacturing. Moreover, such outer wrappers can provide different properties like a lip release coating, perforations to ensure smoke/air permeability or different textures and structures to give the filter a certain touch or feeling.
In a preferred embodiment, a length of the outer wrapper in the filter rod longitudinal direction is the same than the length of the filter rod in the filter rod longitudinal direction. This feature can lead to cost savings since no unnecessary outer wrapper material or filter rod material is used.
In a preferred embodiment, when the wrapped filter rod is being cut, the filter rod and/or the outer wrapper is/are cut perpendicular to the filter rod longitudinal direction. As a result, the different segments are properly separated from each other and the inner wrapped filter rod segments/filters have a better visual quality since the outer wrapper and the filter rod have a shared ending/edge.
The invention also comprises a filter for smoking articles obtainable according to the method of the invention. The filter consists of an inner wrapped filter rod segment and an outer wrapper covering the inner wrapped filter rod segment at least in part, wherein the length of the inner wrapped filter rod segment is substantially equal to the length of the outer wrapper when viewed in the filter rod longitudinal direction. This arrangement ensures the improved visual appearance of the filter since the outer wrapper and the inner wrapped filter rod segment provide the same length. Therefore, no unwrapped parts of the inner wrapped filter rod segments are visible and/or no protruding parts of the outer wrapper are present.
All disclosed features relating to the method shall apply mutatis mutandis to the filter and all disclosed features relating to the filter shall apply mutatis mutandis to the method.
Further advantages, objectives and features of the present invention will be described, by way of example only, in the following description with reference to the appended figures. In the figures, like components in different embodiments can exhibit the same reference symbols.
The figures show:
In a first step S.1, a filter rod 20 and an outer wrapper 30 are provided. The filter rod 20 and the outer wrapper 30 are preferably prefabricated components which are mass-produced. Preferably, a length L4 of the outer wrapper 30 is similar to a length L1 of the filter rod 20.
In a second step S.2, the outer wrapper 30 is wrapped around the filter rod 20 along a filter rod circumferential direction CD. The outer wrapper 30 covers a circumferential filter rod surface 23 at least partially, wherein an inner outer wrapper surface 31 is in contact with the circumferential filter rod surface 23. Preferably, the outer wrapper 30 and the filter rod 20 are firmly connected by a glue/adhesive connection, wherein the adhesive connection could be present on the inner outer wrapper surface 31 and/or the circumferential filter rod surface 23 before the outer wrapper 30 is wrapped around the filter rod 20. This step is prone to the above-mentioned manufacturing tolerances.
In a third step S.3, a wrapped filter rod 100 is obtained, comprising the filter rod 20 and the outer wrapper 30 firmly connected thereto.
In a step S.4, the wrapped filter rod 100 is cut and a first 40 and a second outer wrapped filter rod segment 50 as well as at least two inner wrapped filter rod segments 60 are obtained in a step S.S. The wrapped filter rod is cut perpendicular to a filter rod longitudinal direction LD/HANNKE parallel to a radial filter rod direction RD. The first outer wrapped filter rod segment 40 comprises a first filter rod end 21 and the second outer wrapped filter rod segment 50 comprises a second filter rod end 22. The outer wrapped filter rod segments 40, 50 have a length (L2) being less than 10% of a total length (L1) of the filter rod (20) and/or less than 10 mm.
In a final step S.6, the inner wrapped filter rod segments 60 are used as filters for smoking articles, having an improved visual quality. The outer wrapped filter rod segments 40, 50, comprising the filter rod ends 21, 22 with the possible visual impairments are disposed.
In
The filter rod 20 has a first filter rod end 21 and a second filter rod end 22. The first filter rod end 21 and the second filter rod end 22 are preferably parallel to each other and to the radial filter rod direction RD and perpendicular to the longitudinal filter rod direction LD.
The filter rod 20 further comprises a circumferential filter rod surface 23 extending in/along the circumferential filter rod direction CD.
The filter rod 20 has a length L4. The length L4 of the filter rod 20 is variable and can be chosen according to the required length or the amount of the filters 10.
The outer wrapper 30 comprises an inner outer wrapper surface 31 and an outer outer wrapper surface 32 facing each other and extending in parallel. In this case, the outer wrapper 30 is shown in a bent fashion. Preferably, the outer wrapper 30 is formed from a reeled sheet of material, substantially planar and cut from a bobbin to a substantially rectangular or square shape.
The outer wrapper 30 has a length L4. The length L4 of the outer wrapper 30 can be varied according to the length L1 of the filter rod 20.
In
In the shown embodiment of
It is also possible that the outer wrapper 30 covers the circumferential filter rod surface 23 only partially. It is further conceivable that the outer wrapper 30 protrudes beyond the first filter rod end 21 and/or the second filter rod end 22. It is further conceivable that the length L4 of the outer wrapper 30 is not the same as the length L1 of the filter rod 20.
In
It is further conceivable, that additional second cutting lines X2 are provided, so that at least one second cutting line X2 is provided. That means that the wrapped filter rod 100 is cut more often and a plurality of inner wrapped filter rod segments 60 is obtained, depending on the number of cuts/second cutting lines X2.
In this case, the second cutting line X2 is equivalent to a central plane 90 of the filter rod 20. The central plane 90 defines a first side 24 of the filter rod 20 and a second side 25 of the filter rod 25.
A first flavoring element 70 and a second flavoring element 80 are arranged inside the filter rod 20. The flavoring elements 70, 80 are not visible from the outside of the filter rod but are shown for clarity. The first 70 and the second flavoring element 80 are arranged in a distance D to the central plane 90 and the second cutting line X2 in the filter rod longitudinal direction LD, wherein the first flavoring element 70 is arranged on the first side 24 of the filter rod 20 and the second flavoring element is arranged on the second side 25 of the filter rod 20.
The flavoring elements 70, 80 are arranged inside the filter rod 20, on the longitudinal direction LD thereof.
It is also possible, that the distance D of the first flavoring element 70 to the central plane 90 and/or the second cutting line X2 and the distance D of the second flavoring element 80 to the central plane 90 and/or the second cutting line X2 are not the same.
It is also possible that the first 70 and the second flavoring element 80 are arranged in a distance D to the second cutting line X2 if the second cutting line X2 and the central plane 90 are not the same. It is further possible that flavoring elements 70, 80 are arranged in a distance D to predetermined second cutting lines X2, especially when more than two flavoring elements are arranged inside the filter rod.
In this embodiment, the flavoring elements 70, 80 are provided as flavored capsules but it is further conceivable that the flavoring elements 70, 80 are provided for example as a flavored thread arranged inside the filter rod 20. Further, the first flavoring element 70 and the second flavoring element 80 could be different, e.g. in flavor, design and/or arrangement.
In
The first outer wrapped filter rod segment 40 comprises the first filter rod end 21 and the second outer wrapped filter rod segment 50 comprises the second filter rod end 22.
The first 40 and the second outer wrapped filter rod segment 50 have a length L2. In this case the length L2 of the first outer wrapped filter rod segment 40 and the second outer wrapped filter rod segment 50 is the same. It is also possible, that a length of the first outer wrapped filter rod segment 40 is different than a length of the second outer wrapped filter rod segment 50.
According to the embodiment of the invention, two inner wrapped filter rod segments 60 are provided, constituting two filters 10. The inner wrapped filter rod segments 60 have a length L3.
The inner wrapped filter rod segments 60 comprise the first 70 and the second flavoring element 80, respectively.
By cutting the wrapped filter rod 100, the resulting inner wrapped filter rod segments 60 provide a shared/common ending of the filter rod 20 and the outer wrapper 30.
Statements and descriptions relating to one of the figures
The applicant reserves his right to claim all features disclosed in the application document as being an essential feature of the invention, as long as they are new, individually or in combination, in view of the prior art. Furthermore, it is noted that in the figures features are described, which can be advantageous individually. Someone skilled in the art will directly recognize that a specific feature being disclosed in a figure can be advantageous also without the adoption of further features from this figure. Furthermore, someone skilled in the art will recognize that advantages can evolve from a combination of diverse features being disclosed in one or various figures.
10 filter
20 filter rod
21 first filter rod end
22 second filter rod end
23 circumferential filter rod surface
24 first side of the filter rod
25 second side of the filter rod
30 outer wrapper
31 inner outer wrapper surface
32 outer outer wrapper surface
40 first outer wrapped filter rod segment
50 second outer wrapped filter rod segment
60 inner wrapped filter rod segment
70 first flavoring element
80 second flavoring element
90 central plain of the filter rod
100 wrapped filter rod
LD filter rod longitudinal direction
RD filter rod radial direction
CD filter rod circumferential direction
L1 length of the filter rod
L2 length of the outer wrapped filter rod segment
L3 length of the inner wrapped filter rod segment
L4 length of the outer wrapper
D distance between flavoring element and central plane
X1 first cutting line
X2 second cutting line
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19178663.1 | Jun 2019 | EP | regional |
The present application is a national phase entry under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2020/065351, filed Jun. 3, 2020, published in English, which claims priority to European Application No. 19178663.1 filed Jun. 6, 2019, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2020/065351 | 6/3/2020 | WO |
